Universal sander



June 21, 1955 R AMES 2,711,059

UNIVERSAL SANDER Filed July 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l r ff a) 0 INVEN TOR.

Rosa'r (5. AMES I v I l-I BY boaldafi fl ATTORNEYS June 21, 1955 R. G. AMES UNIVERSAL: SANDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1954 INVENTOR.

ROBERT 6- AMES X 9 m U fil ATTORNEYS 2,711,059 UNIVERSAL SANDER Robert G. Ames, San Mateo, Calif. Application July 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,363 Claims. (Cl. 51 -187 An object of my invention is to provide a universal sander which is especially designed to be used for smoothing the outer surface of a mastic layer that covers the joint between two adjacent wall board sections. In the covering of a wall board joint, an initial layer ofmastic is applied for holding the tape in place that covers the joint. After this, the tape is covered with an outer layer of mastic that has its edges feathered-into the wall board surfaces. In some cases it may be necessary to sand the outer layer of mastic after it has set.

One of the novel features of my invention is to provide a universal sander in which the handle has a universal connection with the body that holds the sandpaper so that the joint isplaced as close to the surface of the sandpaper as it is practical to do. The handleof' the sander is made long enough so that the masticon ceiling joints can be sanded if necessary by an operator standing on the floor. Where a universal connection is made between the sander body and the handle, it is extremely advantageous to place the joint as near to the surface of the sandpaper as possible so that the body will nothave a a tendency to rock'or roll over on its side edges and swing the sandpaper surface clear of the surface being sanded when pressure is applied on the handle to force the tool against the wall or ceiling. I

I accomplish this by providing an opening that extends entirely through the body. A resilient pad is placed between the body and the sandpaper and the pad has an.

opening therethrough that registers with the body opening. The universal joint operates in these two aligned openings at a point that barely clears the back of the sandpaper that overlies the openings. p

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which novel means is used for clamping the handlerigidly to the bodythat carries the In certain instances, a rigid connection besandpaper. tween the surface of the sandpaper and the handle is desirable. I

Other objects and advantages will appear in the follow ing specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the universal sander, portions being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device when looking in the direction of the arrows II-II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the line III-III of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l, but shows the handle clamped to the body so that the body will be rigidly connected to the handle.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a rigid backing nited States Patent 0 plate indicated generally at A, in Figures 1 and 2. The plate is preferably made of metal and has reinforcing ribs ,1 and 2.. The plate is shown rectangular in shape in Figure 2 and is shown relatively thin in Figure 1, although I do not wish to be confined to any particular size or shape. At the center of the plate an oval-shaped opening 3 extends entirely through theplate as indicated in Figure 2. Y j t 1 The front face 4 of the plate is covered with a sponge rubber pad indicated generally at B and this pad has the same shape and size as the rigid backing plate A. The

' pad may bepermanently secured to the front face 4 of the;backingfplate in any manner desired. I provide an oval-shaped opening 5 in the sponge rubber pad of the same size as the opening 3 and the opening 5 registers with the opening 3. i p I j A, strip of sandpiper C is stretched across the sponge rubber pad B and has its ends 6 folded around the opposed ends of the-pad and the rigid backing plate A. Figure 2 illustrates how the ends 6 of the strip of sandpaper are placed under clamps 7and these clamps are removably' held in clampingfposition by bolts 8 and wing nuts 9.; An.

end view ofthe clamps is illustrated in. Figure 1 and it will be-noted'that the clamps are .U-shaped and have their 7 two parallel edges held against the ends 6 .of'the 'sand-' paper for gripping the sandpaper to the backing plate A.

' In this way the sandpaper is clamped inposition to the body of the tool and it willoverlie the sponge rubber pad Band will cover the openings in the pad.

I I will now describe how the handle D has a universal connection with the plate A so that the pivot point between the handle and the plate will be positioned as near to the surface of thesandpaper C as it ispossible to do. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the parallel ribs 1 and 2 for the-rigid backing plate A have integral bosses 10 and 11 that are aligned with and face each other. The bosses 1t} and 11 have aligned threaded bores 10a and 11a,

I respectively, for receiving screws 12' and 13.

The universal joint E also includes a ring 14 .thatvis designed to be swingably received within the registering openings 3 and 5 of the rigid backing plate A and the spongerubber pad B. The ring 14 has two openings 14a, which are diametrically opposed to ,eachother and rotatably receive the cylindrical inner ends of the .screws'lZf and 13;' The ring 14 will therefore be free to rock about the'common axis of the screws 12 and 13 as a pivot. The] outer periphery of the ring 14 is chamfered at two opposed points at 14b so that the ring can swing down into the 'oval-shapedopening 5 without coming intocontact with the inner surface of the sandpaper C. v

I The universal joint E has a journal pin 15 that extends at right angles to the common axis of the screws 12 and 13 and is. placed as close to the axis as is practical. The handle D has a cylindrical end 16 that'has two aligned openings 16a for receiving the journal pin 15. I Figure 3 illustrates how the end of the cylindrical portion 16 is cut on an angle at two places as at 16b for permitting the handle D to be swung into parallel arrangement with the plate A without the cylindrical end coming into con-v of the handle Dis provided with'twopppos ed cutout portions 17 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. These cutout portions each have a length which will receive either one of the bosses 10 or 11 when the handle is swung into a parallel relation with respect to the rigid backing plate A, and overlies the boss. The width of each of the cutout portions 17 is sufficient to receive the bosses 10 or 11 when the handle D lies parallel to the plane of the plate A. The tool can therefore be used in places that would otherwise be difi'icult to reach. 7

Furthermore, when the handle is in a position substantially paralleling the plane ofthe plate A, the force of the movement between the handle and the plate is carried through the journal pin 15 and the ring 14 to the plate. If the journal pin 15 were removed quite a. distance from the plane of the sandpaper C, as would: be necessary if the openings 3 and 5 were not provided, there would be a tendency for the tool body to rock about the edge X" in Figure 3 when a force is exerted on the handle D in the direction of the arrow a. A movement of the handle D in the opposite direction to the arrow :1 would tend to rock the tool body about the opposite edge Y. The placing of the universal joint B. so that it is free to swing into the openings 3 and 5' is important so that there will be] no tendency for the. tool body to rock about either of its edges X and'Y during the use of the tool.

I From the foregoing description of the various parts of the, device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

A strip of sandpaper C is applied to. the toolbody in the manner already described and is removably held 'in p ace by he clamp he fla ar of he sandpap that contacts with the surface to be sanded is large enough to cause. this surface to continue contacting with the wall. surface during the use of the tool and the continuing angular change between the handle D and the plate A. isautomatically taken care of by the universal joint E which includes the journal pin 15, the ring 14 and the necting the handle to the ring; said ring being pivotally connectedto the'body'and' being swingable about an axis.

that extends at right angles to the pin; said ring being free to swing into said body opening and being dimensioned so as to clear the back of the sandpaper portion that covers the opening while permitting the handle to be swung into i a plane paralleling the front body face.

2. A universal sander comprising a body having a front' and a rear face withan opening extending entirely therethrough; a strip of' sandpaper having a portion covering the front fac'eland extendingi across the opening; a handle; and a universal joint connecting the handle to the body at the rear face and'including a ring; a pin pivotally con meeting the handle-to the ring; aplairof bosses integral with the rear'face of the body and disposed on opposite sides of the body opening; said bosses having aligned threaded openings; pivot screws mounted in said threaded I openings and having their inner ends pivotally supportaligned screws 12 and 13. The operator can use the tool on mastic joints that extend along the side walls of the room and can alsouse the tool on the mastic joints that extend along the ceiling. The desired pressure can be applied to the tool through the handle by the operator" and since the universal joint is placed close to the sandpaper surface C, such pressure, plus the movement of the handle D, will have no tendency to rock the body of the tool about either the edges 'X or Y" This is an extremely important point in favor of the stability of the tool.

In certain cases it is desirable to connect the handle D rigidly to the plate A while using the device for sandi'ng purposes. In Figure 4, I show a spring clip F that is rigidly secured to. the plate A by screws 18 or other suitable fastening means. The spring clip has two flexible side arms 19-19- that are spaced apart as shown in Figure 2 and have facing arcuate recesses 19a for receiving the cylindrical portion 16 of the handle. The tension of the spring arms 19 is sufiicient to hold the handle D in the inclined position shown in Figure 4 and therefore the. plate A will have a rigid connection with the handle.

When the operator wishes to bring the universal joint E back into operation, he merely frees the cylindrical portion 16 of the handle from the spring clip F. It is easy to apply fresh strips of sandpaper C to the tool to take the place of the used one asv needed.

Figure 4 illustrates the sander applied to a surface Z 57 that has a corner Z. The rectangular shape of the body of the sander permits it to be moved right up to the corner Z during the sanding operation.

I claim:

l. A universal sander comprising a. body having a front and a rear face with an opening extending entirely therethrough; a strip of sandpaper having a portion covering the front face and extending across the opening; a handle; and a universal joint connecting the handle to the body at the rear face and including a ring; a pin pivotally coning the ring along an axis that extends at right angles to the pin; said ring beingfree to swing into said body pe d b g. d mens oned so s o clear the ck of the sandpaper portion that covers the opening, while permitting thehandle to be swung. into a plane paralleling fr m. body ace A ni rs ander s S orth in. claim 2; a d in which the handle is provided with openings that will" receive the bosses when the parallel position ofthe handle with respect to the front body face also overliesone of the bosses. 1

4; A universal sander comprising a body having a front and a rear; face; a resilient padoverlying the front face and b n c ex en i e t rew th; said b dy and p d having registering openings extending entirely there} thr ugh; a tr p of sandpape having a Po g;v he. pa and extendi g across the opening in the pad;

a handle; and'a universal j int connecting he handle to the body at, the rear face and, ata point near the planel of the sand'paperthat'. covers the pad opening so that the joint will be swingable into the registering openingsas the. handle is swung, into various angular positions with;

respect to the, body.

5. A universal sander comprising a body having a frontand arear face with an opening extending entirely/ therethrough; a strip! ofsandpaper having a portion. cover; ing the front face and extending across the opening; a handle; a universal joint connecting the handle tothei body at the rear face and at a point near the plane of the. sandpaper that covcr s'the. opening so. that the joint will be swingable into the opening as the handle is swung into various. angular positions. with respect torthe body; and asp ring clip. extendingfrorn the rear} face of thebody; said clip. beingiadapted-to grip the handle at a point removed from: thefuniversal joint when the handle is swung into a predetermined position with respect to the hold thebody rigidly-te tile bodyj' whereby the clip will h ndle- References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED- STATES PATENTS 2,663,979 Sierchio Dec. 29, 

